I gave my life to Christ, so that I can have eternal life - in the sense that I did not want to go to hell. With time, I asked myself am i just securing my life after life on earth? then maybe i should wait and get saved when am about to die! But I came across John 17:3, .....Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
And so I realised, it was more than just life after "death" but a relationship - to know the only true God,and Jesus Christ.
To answer the question, did I get saved just because of me? Yes I did - it was all about me!And all the benefits theirin as a child of God.
Then I went through the gospels, and Christs exhortation and sommand - that we are to seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things - shall be added unto us!
So I asked myself, what is the kingdom of God, that I may seek it with all my heart!
And when I read on, there was alot about the kingdom of God, attributes like Righteousness, Peace , Joy.....and the similies Jesus used to explain the kingdom of God: The Kingdom of God being like a Pearl of Great Price, Like a mustard seed and so forth!
Are these just attributes? What is the kingdom of God? That I can live my salvation - beyond me, but to seek it with all my heart?
_ Susan_
October 31, 2008
Jeff said »
Sue, you ask great questions. Righteousness, Peace, Joy, Justice are all part of the Kingdom of God. And Jesus said in the gospels that His Kingdom is near, referring to Himself being near. The Kingdom certainly has a future focus to it, an eternal life and reward that is promised, but I think that we have misunderstood what it means to seek the Kingdom first. Does it have anything to do with what Jesus talks about in Matthew 25 where he tells us to feed the hungry and visit the prisoner and invite the stranger in? Does it have anything to do with being Jesus' witnesses? Does it have anything to do with loving our neighbor? It sounds like the Kingdom for you has encompassed the first commandment, Love God with your whole heart, but there is a second one...love your neighbor as yourself. Who is your neighbor? Jesus did a good job of modeling that with the way He lived out His life.
So I would say...seeking the Kingdom might include getting involved in what God is doing to bring about His Kingdom. Maybe that's why He saved you...so that you could change the world.
Comments
susan agwata said »
I gave my life to Christ, so that I can have eternal life - in the sense that I did not want to go to hell. With time, I asked myself am i just securing my life after life on earth? then maybe i should wait and get saved when am about to die! But I came across John 17:3, .....Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
And so I realised, it was more than just life after "death" but a relationship - to know the only true God,and Jesus Christ.
To answer the question, did I get saved just because of me? Yes I did - it was all about me!And all the benefits theirin as a child of God.
Then I went through the gospels, and Christs exhortation and sommand - that we are to seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things - shall be added unto us!
So I asked myself, what is the kingdom of God, that I may seek it with all my heart!
And when I read on, there was alot about the kingdom of God, attributes like Righteousness, Peace , Joy.....and the similies Jesus used to explain the kingdom of God: The Kingdom of God being like a Pearl of Great Price, Like a mustard seed and so forth!
Are these just attributes? What is the kingdom of God? That I can live my salvation - beyond me, but to seek it with all my heart?
_ Susan_
October 31, 2008
Jeff said »
Sue, you ask great questions. Righteousness, Peace, Joy, Justice are all part of the Kingdom of God. And Jesus said in the gospels that His Kingdom is near, referring to Himself being near. The Kingdom certainly has a future focus to it, an eternal life and reward that is promised, but I think that we have misunderstood what it means to seek the Kingdom first. Does it have anything to do with what Jesus talks about in Matthew 25 where he tells us to feed the hungry and visit the prisoner and invite the stranger in? Does it have anything to do with being Jesus' witnesses? Does it have anything to do with loving our neighbor? It sounds like the Kingdom for you has encompassed the first commandment, Love God with your whole heart, but there is a second one...love your neighbor as yourself. Who is your neighbor? Jesus did a good job of modeling that with the way He lived out His life.
So I would say...seeking the Kingdom might include getting involved in what God is doing to bring about His Kingdom. Maybe that's why He saved you...so that you could change the world.
November 04, 2008